1978 was the year when Sizwe Ndlovu joined the WearCheck family, 40 years ago.

At that time, WearCheck had begun initially as a soil analysis company, which later changed to oil analysis in 1976. So, at the then fledgling oil analysis company, Sizwe began his career as stores assistant, where he was tasked with keeping the stores neat and tidy and clean.

Today, and as the company has grown, he is now in charge of the store room, as well as holding many other responsibilities, which include looking after all the chemicals used in the laboratory. He re-orders chemicals and gas cylinders when stocks get low and fills all the machines with chemicals. Sizwe has completed a course in the control of Hazardous Materials and Basic Fire Fighting training.

The only employee who has been at WearCheck longer than Sizwe is laboratory supervisor Vigie Manikum, who is in her 42nd year with the company. And, keeping it in the family, Sizwe’s brother Wellington Ndlovu has also reached an important milestone this year – he celebrates 35 years with WearCheck.

It doesn’t end there - there are also four employees who have spent an impressive three decades working at WearCheck this year – Sheila Naidoo, Prinda Narasi, Lyn Gengan and Sheila Moodley all clocked up 30 years in the Pinetown office.

Managing direction Neil Robinson expressed gratitude for long term dedication from staff. ‘I offer sincere congratulations to Sizwe Ndlovu for staying with us for 40 years, and to Wellington Ndlovu, for being here for 35 years.

‘Staff who remain for long periods really get to know our business, and our customers, inside and out. This reduces the need for retraining, and keeps processes running smoothly, which in turn boosts our customer service and helps maintain WearCheck as a successful operation. Thank you to all long-serving members of our family. We feel honoured as, these days, there are not many businesses who can boast about having as many long-time staff members as we do.’

WearCheck’s storeman Sizwe Ndlovu has worked at the company for 40 years

Stores assistant Wellington Ndlovu has worked at WearCheck for 35 years

Senior laboratory technician Sheila Naidoo has been with WearCheck for 30 years

Quality administrator Prinda Narasi has spent 30 years with WearCheck

Customer support officer Lyn Gengan has worked at WearCheck for 30 years

DP admin clerk Sheila Moodley has been employed by WearCheck for 30 years

At WearCheck we embrace earth-friendly best practice in every facet of our business model - as an extension of our ISO 14001 certification for environmental consideration, and because we care about our planet.

Our latest environment-friendly action is the installation of a 2 500 litre JoJo tank outside our Pinetown laboratory, which harvests rainwater from the roof of the building. This water is then used to flush the toilets.

Quality administrator Prinda Narasi explains, ‘The tank has a reserve of 750 litres of municipal water to keep the system working even if there is not enough rain. We estimate that by substituting municipal water with rainwater, this will save many thousands of litres annually.

‘Furthermore, we meticulously ensure that none of our process waste - including plastic waste - ends up as landfill. Instead, all our plastic oil sample bottles, caps and cores are recycled. They are melted down into pellets, which are used to manufacture industrial products such as drain grids.

‘The oil from the oil samples that are submitted to WearCheck is not simply discarded but is also recycled. After the oil and water are separated, the oil is processed and then re-used in other applications. The oily tissue is converted to refuse-derived fuel and is used, for example, as a fuel for cement kilns.

‘Another eco-friendly practice is that we hand all plastic courier bags and office paper to a recycling company, ‘says Prinda. ‘We will continue to explore new ways to decrease WearCheck’s footprint on our planet.’

Raw material: All WearCheck’s oil sample bottles are collected, emptied and handed to a recycling company which converts the plastic into pellets. These are then used to manufacture industrial products. Here, WearCheck workers Nathi Manzini (left) and Wellington Ndlovu empty oil from bottles awaiting recycling

WearCheck’s Sizwe Ndlovu points out the company’s underground tank, where used oil samples are collected before being recycled

Did you know? When you complete Mobius reliability solutions training courses at WearCheck, you can now earn CPD (continuing professional development) points – this was recently approved by the South African Institute for Mechanical Engineers (SAIMechE).

The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), in agreement with international engineering bodies, stipulates that South African engineering professionals must undertake CPD activities to keep abreast of expert knowledge, to demonstrate competence and to renew professional registration.

WearCheck is an accredited training partner for the internationally-acclaimed Mobius Institute, and has run condition monitoring courses since 2015.

The SAIMechE has approved the following WearCheck courses for CPD points:

Course

Duration

CPD Credits

Introduction to Vibration

1 Day

1

Precision Balancing

2 Days

2

Vibration Analysis ISO CAT I

4 Days, incl Exam

3

Vibration Analysis ISO CAT II

5 Days, incl Exam

4

Vibration Analysis ISO CAT III

5 Days, incl Exam

4

WearCheck’s Mobius trainer Dennis Swanepoel, who was among the first on the continent to complete his Vibration ISO CAT IV certification, is a qualified mechanical technician and has more than 20 years’ experience in the reliability improvement field.

Says Swanepoel, ‘For a plant to operate at maximum reliability, it takes competent and well-trained technicians who apply their world class knowledge and skills. WearCheck’s training courses can enhance staff competency to boost the bottom line of the business.’

Mobius training is internationally acclaimed as the standard for reliability solutions technicians, and the courses are run by WearCheck on demand.

To book a Mobius training course and get cost information, please contact Christene on
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call WearCheck Johannesburg on (011) 392-6322. Please visit http://www.wearcheck.co.za/training/mobius-training for schedules.

QUESTION: How does a Group III engine oil compare to a Group IV in its cleaning ability?

I have read and understood the potential problems of switching a higher mileage engine from a conventional oil to a synthetic PAO, but is there less inherent risk with switching to a Group III? From my understanding esters act more like a solvent (more aggressive, I assume) and detergents and dispersants more or less attach themselves to sludge and other contaminants and carry it away in that form.

ANSWER: Most engine oils are now formulated with Group II (hydrotreated) or a mixture of Group I (conventional mineral oil) and Group II base oils to meet the latest API gasoline (SM) and diesel (CJ-4) performance designations. Because Group III and Group IV (PAO) base oils are both considered synthetics (since 1999), any oil labelled as a full synthetic, would contain either Group III or PAO, or both.

Any oil labelled as a partial synthetic or semi synthetic or synthetic blend would contain Group I or Group II (mineral oil) plus some amount of Group III or PAO (synthetic). There are no designations for us, as end-users, to know what specific base oils the oil formulator has used, so your question is a bit academic in nature. We would never know if we were purchasing a Group III engine oil vs. a Group IV (PAO) engine oil. But, from an academic point of view, I would expect the cleaning ability of a Group III and a PAO to be similar (generally poor). Again, academically, I would expect less risk of seal issues etc. when switching from a Group III (as opposed to a Group I) to a PAO, as the Group III and PAO are chemically similar. Ester synthetics have a higher degree of solvency than Group II, III or PAO base oils. This means they will dissolve additives and deposits more readily and may cause some seals to swell slightly (they also can remove some paints). These characteristics (not the paint removal) can be beneficial and some oil formulators will add some small amounts of ester base oils into their synthetic (Group III and PAO) formulations to improve these characteristics. - Courtesy of Noria Corporation

Do you understand the intricacies of PQI? Did you know that the test for illuminating paraffin contamination in diesel is quick and easy? and that you can now earn CPD points with WearCheck training?

The latest issue of Monitor has more details on these topical issues, as well as plenty more - such as WearCheck’s “greening” practices, a useful lube tip, the launch of a new laboratory, news of some amazing staff achievements including 2 million samples diagnosed by one person, and 40 years at the company.

Calling all Electra Mining 2018 guests - would you like to win one of these awesome WearCheck hampers valued at over R1000? Of course you would! To stand a chance of winning, visit WearCheck at stand #K10, Hall 6 and pick up a free key. You then try your key in the padlock. If it unlocks the treasure chest, BINGO! You’re the lucky winner of the day, and you get to take your loot home with you.

We are giving away a treasure chest every day during Electra Mining, so head on over to the WearCheck stand to try your luck.